Apparatus for adding powdered dye to liquids



June; 9 1949. c. c. KEANE 2,473,474

APPARATUS FOR ADDING POWDERED DYE TO LIQUIDS Filed Oct. 29,. 1945 IN V EN TOR. Char/e5 62 Keane Patented June 14, 1949 APPARATUS FOR ADDING POWDERED DYE TO LIQUIDS Charles C. Keane, Kansas City, Mo., assignor to Great Lakes Pipe Line Company, Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Delaware Application October 29, 1945, Serial No. 625,235

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in adding powdered dyes to liquids and refers more particularly to the incorporation of dye in pulverulent form to motor fuel or other liquid which is to be colored in large quantities.

In adding powdered dye to gasoline difliculties are experienced since the fine particles of dye become easily suspended in the air in the form of dust. This dust clings to and fills the fabric of garments worn by the workers, irritates their skin and is unhealthy and dangerous due to the effect which it has upon the respiratory organs of the workers.

An object then of the instant invention is to avoid contamination of the air in the working space Where the dye is handled.

A further object is to eliminate losses and increase economies in transferring the dye from the drums or containers in which it is stored to the liquid to be colored.

A further object is to obtain a more uniform mixture and blending of the dye in the liquid and easier handling of the dye by the workers.

Other and further objects will appear from the following description.

In the accompanying drawing which forms a part of the specification and is to be read in conjunction therewith and in which like reference numerals indicate like parts in the various views,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a dye drum upon which is about to be placed a hopper showing the attaching frame in position, and

Fig. 2 is a side view partly in section with the drum and hopper reversed from the position shown in Fig. 1 and the discharge line attached to the eduction fittings.

Referring to the drawings at Hl'is shown a cylindrical drum in which the dye is received from the manufacturer and in which it is stored until the dye is removed. The powdered dye is diagrammatically shown at H; A hopp r adapted to be attached to the open end of the drum is shown at it. This hopper is funnel-shaped and is supported by a fiat-bottomed cylindrical base it. The upper portion of the funnel-shaped hopper has formed therein a collar 02a. To the lower or discharge end of the hopper is connected a discharge pipe it. The hopper is attached to the dye drumby means of a frame consisting of a flat ring 15 and vertical side rods it. Clips i'l mounted circumferentially on the collar portion of the hopper in alignment with the rods of the frame engage the rods as shown in Fig. 2 to hold the hopper and dye drum together.

In the lower portion of the hopper adjacent its outlet is a rotatable paddle or agitator it which is mounted on a shaft l9 supported on bearings 20 in the tapered sides of the hopper. Outside the hopper and on the end of the shaft i9 is a handle 2| by which the agitator within the hopper is manually rotated and the powdered dye adjacent outlet l4 mechanically stirred and agitated. This agitation facilitates and assures uniform and constant feeding of the dye to the outlet and prevents arching of the dye in the hopper. At the joint between the hopper and dye drum is a flexible seal or sock 22, preferably of dust-tight fabric, that has elastic edges 220. at top and bottom adapted to tightly fit against the sides of the drum and hopper and assure a dust-tight joint.

The discharge outlet pipe i4 is connected by a suitable union23 to a flexible pipe 24 which in turn has connection with a fitting 25 where the blend of liquid and powder is made. The pipe connections between the hopper and fitting 25 are controlled by valves 26 and 21. The motor fuel in which the powdered dye is to be incorporated is suppliedto the fitting 25 through pipe 28 regulated by valve 29. Within the fitting 25 is a nozzle 30 which jets the liquid into the discharge pipe 3! carrying the dye supply from the hopper in regulated amounts proportioned with respect to the quantity of liquid passing through the nozzle. In the discharge pipe 3! is a check valve 32' and a control valve 33. The weight of the fitting 25 and its connections are carried upon the pipe support 34 which in turn is mounted upon a base 35. The base [3 of the hopper, as

well as the dye drum and frame, rests upon a scale 36 by means of which the amount of dye being used is at all times determinable. The balancing mechanism of the scale is shown in dotted lines behind the dye drum and hopper I in Fig. 2.

- before or after the drum has been placed upon ring l5 of the frame. Union 23 is disconnected auacn and the hopper is inverted to a position shown in Fig. 1. In this position it is supported by suitable difierential chain lift or block and tackle. with clip I! in alignment with rod IS the lower elastic 22a of the sock is drawn over the top edge of the drum. -The hopper is then lowered onto the drum so the collar flts into the top of the drum and the upper edge of the drum abuts against the tapered inner surface of the hopper as shown in Fig. 2. Vertical rods l6 oi the frame at this tim are threaded through holes in the clips I! and hold the hopper rigidly in place on the top of the drum.

When joined in this manner by a dust-tight seal, the drum and hopper assembly held together by the frame is lifted bodily and the position of the drum and hopper reversed as shown in Fig. 2.

In this position it is lowered so the base l3 of the hopper rests upon scale 36. Union 23 is then made between the discharge pipe 14 and flexible pipe 24 and the top of the drum punctured with a vent hole. Adjustment of the valves 23 and 21 controlling feed of the powdered dye and valves 29 and 33 regulating the passage of the motor fuel is then made to supply predetermined amounts of the dye and liquid for a proper blend. In other words the feed of the liquid and the supply of dye are correlated to obtain the proper proportions and to produce the desired color in the liquid. Periodically or continuously handle 2| is rotated to agitate the material adjacent the hopper outlet.

Thus, it will be seen that powdered dye in finely divided form is transferred from the drums or vessels in which it is shipped to the liquid in which it is incorporated without loss and with little or no difliculty from dust which is not only disagreeable but endangers the health of the workers and ruins their clothing.

Furthermore, from the foregoing it will be seen that the invention is well adapted to attain the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the process and apparatus.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. Apparatus for emptying a rigid container open at the top, comprising a funnel adapted to be inverted over the open top of the container, means for securing the tunnel to the container when thus positioned. a support adapted thereafter to hold said container and funnel with the open end of the container down and the funnel therebelow, said support comprising a standard rigidly aflixed to the funnel, and a horizontal platform upon which said standard is adapted to rest when the container is inverted with a funnel secured thereto.

2. In combination with an open-top vessel containing a light powder, apparatus for emptying said vessel, comprising a funnel adapted to be inverted over the open top of the vessel, means for securing said funnel to the vessel when thus positioned, a sleeve of substantially dust-proof fabric attached to the rim of the funnel and adapted to extend down around the sides of the vessel, said sleeve having an elastic garter to hold the sleeve snugly against the sides of the vessel, and means for supporting the vessel in an inverted position with the funnel secured thereto.

3. In combination with an open-top vessel containing a light powder, apparatus for emptying REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 991,709 Fischer May 9, 1911 1,275,085 Peckham Aug. 6, 1918 1,448,370 Wardell Mar. 13, 1923 1,531,594 Carozza et al Mar. 31, 1924 1,611,297 Wickey Dec. 21, 1926 1,731,953 Thomson Oct. 15, 1929 1,755,437 Fazio Apr. 22, 1930 2,001,506 Smitt May 14, 1935 

